In response to the unprecedented challenge of plastic pollution, volunteers from the ZeroPlastic Movement, Sri Lanka’s largest environmental volunteer organization driven to empower individuals through education and action, together with the team at Intrepid, sponsored by the Intrepid Travel Foundation held a climate action awareness project in Kandy.
Over 200 volunteers joined in, largely from universities, showcasing their relentless and collective dedication towards climate action. This concerted effort underscores a growing commitment among youth, fighting for a plastic-free world and community-driven environmental stewardship.
The project also went onto establishing enhanced plastic collection and recycling processes at the Kandy Railway Station, including an educational workshop for its authorities and the donation of a substantial plastic collection bin to further streamline recycling efforts. Further, this was also extended to sacred spaces such as the Dalada Maligawa, where thousands of people visit every day.
The entire journey began with a comprehensive awareness campaign, kickstarting from the Colombo-Fort Railway Station to Kandy in an Intercity train, to local businesses and towns, with countless face-to-face interactions and displays of placards, spurring conversations about responsible plastic management among locals.
Barista, Sri Lanka’s largest cafe chain, also joined in to pledge its support towards this cause as beverages partner. ‘We’d like to extend our heartiest gratitude to our sponsors and supporters who played a crucial role in making this project a success. Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Kandy. The outcomes of this initiative underscore the positive impact that collaborative efforts can have on fostering a healthier planet.
ZeroPlastic Movement has evolved into a foremost grassroots environmental activist group in Sri Lanka with over 10,000 volunteers from universities, corporations, and schools, coming together to combat plastic pollution through education and advocacy. It was also named National Winner 2023 – Sri Lanka earlier this year in recognition of its ZeroPlastic River Strainer project and will go onto being nominated for the prestigious Energy Globe World Awards.
